Live preparation of a probable new species of Ichthyosaur
Dr Steve Etches, a familiar figure for Rockwatchers visiting Dorset or attending our residential fieldtrip, will be preparing a rare Ichthyosaur in his glass walled workshop at his museum. Visitors will be able to go along and watch him working on the fossil and also watch him from above via the live feed on a large television screen. It’s a rare chance to witness live the painstaking preparation of...
Virtual Festival of Geology on 7 November
The Virtual Festival of Geology is up and running! We now have the titles for our lectures and the speakers are experts in their fields. You may think you’re too young to find them interesting, but you may be surprised! The topics are fascinating – and if you aren’t interested your parents may be! We’ve got: The Day the Dinosaurs Died by Professor Philip Manning, University of Manchester Above and Beyond:...
Rockstar Competiton!
A perfect time to work on your entry to our Rockstar Competition! This is a past entry to inspire you – a wood ammonite! Your entry can be anything to do with geology – rocks, fossils or minerals. How about a dinosaur picture, a record of your past fossil finds, a story, a film, a snakes and ladders game with dinosaurs and sink holes! Whatever you like, but it needs geological content that is accurate. The judges will...
FIELDTRIP UPDATE
Rockwatch has had to cancel fieldtrips until further notice. You can be assured that as soon as the current situation changes and it is possible to restart them we will. We are as disappointed as you. Sorry if you were booked onto one of the trips – they will be rescheduled. Hope to see you all in the future on fieldtrips and at events. And while you are having to stay at home, it’s a great opportunity to start work...
CANCELLED – Shipwrecks and Beach Hunt in Hastings on Saturday 5 April
I’m afraid that due to the Corona Virus this fieldtrip has had to be cancelled. We hope we will be able to reschedule it later in the year. So sorry if you have booked and are disappointed. We will be refunding your registration fee. Hope to see
Great day at the Natural History Museum
Thank you to all the Rockwatchers who came to see us at the Natural History Museum. We had a great visit and did over 200 fossil plaster casts! The Museum tours went well too. Fabulous to meet so many keen children.
Rocky-Fossil Roadshow on Saturday 29 February – 2020
Come along and join us at the Rocky-Fossil Roadshow! A great day out for all the family. No need to book. St George’s Church Hall, Sprowson Road, Norwich NR3 4HZ 11.00 – 3.00
Geo-Craft Day and Tours at the Natural History Museum – Tuesday 18 February – 2020
Family craft fun! Rockwatch is having a Geo-Craft Day in the British Geological Survey shop on the ground floor of the Natural History Museum, London. Come along and make a plaster of Paris trilobite, handle fossils and bring your own to be identified. Museum experts will then take you on a tour of the Earth Galleries, and tell you the facts and stories behind the exhibits. We will be making things from 10.00 when the museum opens...
Dinosaur Competition Time!
Trilobites, Dinosaurs and Mammoths! Enter our competition to win a copy of James McKay’s book ‘Trilobites, Dinosaurs and Mammoths’ which charts the extraordinary prehistory of the British Isles. The story is told in 44 paintings, each a snapshot of a specific geological period with maps and explanations. All you have to win one of these two prizes is send us a dinosaur! Draw, crayon or paint us a dinosaur picture...
Geologists’ Association Calendar 2020
The Geologists’ Association Calendar is available and has wonderful photographs for every month. Buy your calendar now. Just £5.00 plus postage from the Geologists’ Association website.
Calling all Poets! Enter the Hugh Miller Writing Competition
The Hugh Miller Writing competition is named after one of Scotland’s most endearing geologists. He was one of Scotland’s greatest nature writers and the competition aims to honour Hugh Miller’s legacy by inspiring new, original prose and poetry on the theme of Scotland’s geoheritage. Young people under 25 are being encouraged to enter – so Rockwatcher’s, here you go! We all know how talented...
Fieldtrip to Scotland for Older Rockwatchers – May 2021
Calling all Rockwatchers over 14! Are you up for a geological adventure in May 2021. Rockwatch is having a fieldtrip to the north of Scotland. We are heading to the Inverness area, staying at a hostel in Ancheninver . We’ll be exploring the geology of that area, visiting Knockan Crag and looking at sites in the North West Scotland Geopark. The trip is for 4 nights with food and transport from Inverness included. It’s a...
Festival of Geology on 2nd November
Join us at University College London for this year’s Festival of Geology. It’s the largest of it’s kind in the UK and has plenty to do for all ages. Children can enjoy the activities in the Discovery Room with Fossil Plaster casting, fossil identification, a Jurassic Diorama workshop and can discover all about microfossils by peering down a microscope! There are stalls from all over the country where you can find...
Open Day at the British Geological Survey, Keyworth – Saturday 12 October
Join Rockwatch and the British Geological Survey for their Open Day. ‘Geoscience is for Everyone’ is the theme and there will be lots of hands-on activities, talks and tours. You’ll also be able to see how new technology and data is used to deliver world-leading research to sense, understand and predict the Earth’s behaviour. Join us at The British Geological Survey, Kingsley Dunham Centre, Keyworth,...
Rockstar Competition 2019
Enter our Rockstar Competition. Have a go and win a prize. It’s open till 9th September so you have time! Anything rock, fossil, mineral or dinosaur related. Great prizes and everyone who enters wins a small prize. Download a competition entry or email Rockwatch to have one sent. hello@rockwatch.org.uk Good luck!
Rockwatch at Ware Museum – August 2019
We recently had a great day at Ware Museum in Hertfordshire – a day of geological fun! We were there with Jurassic Dioramas, fossil plaster casting, puzzles and more and the sun shone! Both outside and inside and outside this wonderful little museum was a hive of activity. Thank you everyone who came along and joined us in this geology day!
Still places on Fieldtrips in the coming weeks! Join us!
We still have some places on the fantastic fieldtrips that are coming up in July. Why not join us for fossil hunting along the Yorkshire Coast, on the coast of Scotland near Fife or come along and explore the Jurassic coast in Dorset? All amazing adventures for all the family! Just go to the Events pages to book.
Fossil hunting and geology on the Dorset Coast 29 July – 2 August
Rockwatchers had a fabulous time on our annual residential fieldtrip to the wonderful coast of Dorset and Devon. Five days exploring the exceptional geology of the area, hunting for fossils and walking in the steps of famous geologists from long ago! And they even managed a boat trip and visit to Brownsea Island! Look out for our annual trip to the Jurassic Coast and book for next year. It’s an experience not to be missed. ...
Residential Fieldtrip to Fife in Scotland – 27 to 31 July 2019
Rockwatchers had a great fieldtrip to a beautiful part of the Scottish coast with Angus Miller. Sedimentary and igneous rocks as well as giant millipede and eurypterid tracks and volcanic vents along with sandy beaches and rocky headlands. An amazing opportunity for geological exploration!
South Wales Weekend Fieldtrip – 13 and 14 July
We’re planning a fabulous weekend in South Wales exploring the area around Cardiff. This annual weekend exploring South Wales has become a firm favourite. Do join us!
Yorkshire Coast Fieldtrip – Saturday 20 July
Glorious Yorkshire! Rockwatchers will be visiting the Yorkshire coast in July, to the SSSI at Skipsea Withlow to look at the Quaternary stratigrapy and the erosion of the Holderness coast. Fabulous day out!
Great trip to Worcestershire coming up on Sunday 9 June – 2019
Rockwatchers have just enjoyed a fabulous weekend Derbyshire and next stop is Worcestershire. We’ll be checking out the rocks of the Lickey Hills area. It will be a fabulous trip for all the family. See if you can come!
Dino-craft at the British Geological Survey, NHM London – Tuesday 16 April
Family craft fun! Rockwatch is having a Dino-Craft Day in the British Geological Survey shop on the ground floor of the Natural History Museum, London. Come along and make a plaster of Paris trilobite, handle fossils and bring your own to be identified. Museum experts will then take you on a tour of the Earth Galleries, and tell you the facts and stories behind the exhibits. We will be making things from 10.00 when the museum...
Derbyshire Weekend Fieldtrip – 11 and 12 May 2019
A weekend of fossil and mineral hunting in the Ashover area of Derbyshire and a visit to a disused quarry at the National Stone Centre. A fabulous two days of geological exploration. Book now!